clf — Clear figure contents in MATLAB and RunMat plotting.

clf clears the contents of the current figure while leaving the figure handle itself alive. It accepts explicit figure numbers, figure-number arrays, and RunMat's 'all' selector. Typed integer figure numbers are an exact structural convenience available in RunMat mode; compatibility mode accepts ordinary double figure numbers.

Syntax

result = clf()
result = clf(targets...)

Inputs

Returns

Errors

How clf works

• clf() clears the current figure.
• clf(handle) clears the specified figure handle.
• clf('all') is a separately gated RunMat convenience that clears every known figure and returns the number of figures that were cleared; compatibility mode rejects it before plotting-state access.
• clf(handle1, handle2, ...) is a separately gated RunMat convenience that clears multiple figures and returns the number cleared. Compatibility syntax uses one figure object or figure array.
• clf('reset') is currently treated the same as plain clf.
• In RunMat mode, scalar and array figure numbers can use any of the eight integer classes. Values are read from authoritative integer storage and must be positive and no larger than uint32's maximum.
• Typed integer figure numbers are rejected in compatibility mode because the public compatibility contract documents figure numbers but does not advertise integer classes. GPU-resident numeric targets are rejected without provider dispatch.

Does RunMat run clf on the GPU?

clf performs no provider dispatch; it clears figures from the plotting registry and renderer state.

GPU memory and residency

clf only mutates host plotting state. Figure-number controls must be host values; resident numeric targets are rejected without gathering.

Examples

Clear the current figure after plotting

figure(1);
plot(1:5, [1 4 2 5 3]);
out = clf()

Expected output:

% out is the cleared figure handle

Clear a specific figure by handle

figure(3);
plot(1:5, 1:5);
out = clf(3)

Expected output:

out = 3

Clear every figure

figure(1); plot(1:5, 1:5);
figure(2); plot(1:5, [5 4 3 2 1]);
count = clf("all")

Expected output:

count = 2

Using clf with coding agents

Open a RunMat example with live inputs, then ask the agent to explain how clf changes the result.

FAQ

Related Plotting functions

Open-source implementation

Unlike proprietary runtimes, every RunMat function is open-source. Read exactly how clf is executed, line by line, in Rust.

• View the source for clf in Rust on GitHub
• Learn how the RunMat runtime works
• Found a bug? Open an issue with a minimal reproduction.

About RunMat

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